Posts Tagged ‘Wedding Music’

Chris Laich Music DJ Set Up, Woodend Mansion

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

The Woodend Mansion, owned by the Audubon Naturalist Society, in Bethesda, MD is a Maryland wedding venue we’ve deejayed at many times over the years, but we never get tired of how pretty it is!

Near the bustle of downtown Bethesda, Woodend is a hidden jewel. Tucked into grounds that in warmer months is positively sylvan, the mansion is a gracious retreat and perfect for weddings! If the weather is fine, ceremonies are held in an enchanting grove on the grounds, with cocktails and dinner served on the terrace or within the mansion.

In such a bucolic setting, the last thing you want are large speakers and bundles of wires everywhere! So, we always bring our wireless Bose speakers and set them up to ensure they are heard and not seen at Woodend!

We were there recently for a wedding and took a few pictures to show how seamlessly our DJ equipment and wireless Bose speakers fit into Woodend Mansion’s natural environment and elegant rooms.

Woodend Mansion

Wedding DJ Chris Laich Music Services set up at Woodend Mansion, Bethesda, MD


Woodend Mansion

Woodend Mansion wedding grove, DJ equipment and speaker set up

Woodend Mansion

Maryland’s Woodend Mansion DJ equipment set up, Chris Laich Music Services

 

Woodend Mansion

Maryland wedding DJ set up at Woodend Mansion, Bethesda, MD

Woodend Mansion

Wedding DJ Chris Laich Music Services set up at Woodend Mansion, Bethesda, MD

Wedding at the Plains, Virgina

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010


Tom and Jessica's wedding, image by Greg Gibson

Tom and Jessica, image: Greg Gibson

Remember our DJ equipment and wireless Bose set-up for a wedding in The Plains, Virginia earlier this week? Jessica and Tom’s photographer, Greg Gibson, sent us his amazing shots of the wedding!

Tom & Jessica's wedding, image by Greg Gibson

Amy Jones of Engaging Affairs event design and planning, image by Greg Gibson

Planned by easily one of the area’s best, Amy Jones from Engaging Affairs, every detail of Tom and Jessica’s modern, chic wedding (with a dash of Arabian Nights) came together perfectly. Held on an over  200-acre piece of property complete with a polo field, the cocktail reception was off the pool and dinner was served in a four-car garage converted into a sleek dining room for the night.

0696_7145_Rich_Gorman

Tom & Jessica’s first dance to Jame Blunt, DJ Chris Laich Music Services image by Greg Gibson

Jessica and Tom’s first dance was to the tune of “High” by James Blunt, and for the rest of the night, we played music to suit their fun, sophisticated crowd.

Tom and Jessica's wedding, images by Greg Gibson

Tom & Jessica, wedding DJ Chris Laich Music Services, images by Greg Gibson

The lounge vibe of the wedding’s cocktail reception and dinner called for an urbane, polished sound. So, we spun classics from Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Van Morrison, and Ray Charles, mixed in St. Germaine, Thievery Corporation, and Moby, then layered it with David Gray, Eva Cassidy, and Ben Harper.

Once everyone was ready to get down, we deejayed our hearts out with a great mix of some ‘70s rock, disco, ‘80s pop, and some newer hip-hop/club tunes.

Tom and Jessica's wedding, images by Greg Gibson

Fun wedding dance floor, image by Greg Gibson

Jessica and Tom's wedding, Image by Greg Gibson

Amy Jones of Engaging Affairs event design and planning, image by Greg Gibson

Tom and Jessica's wedding, images by Greg Gibson

Amy Jones of Engaging Affairs event design and planning, image by Greg Gibson

Tom and Jessica's wedding, images by Greg Gibson

Tom and Jessica, image: Greg Gibson


Tom and Jessica's wedding, image by Greg Gibson

Tom and Jessica, image: Greg Gibson

Best wishes to Tom and Jessica (they were so easy to work with) we had a great time deejaying your wedding! Also, a big thanks to Greg Gibson for sharing his fantastic images of their wedding, and congrats to Amy for planning the event so flawlessly!

What Did Jackie and JFK Dance To On Their Wedding day?

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

Jackie Kennedy is a style touchstone for many brides as they shop for their wedding gowns.

But have you ever wondered what song she and President John F. Kennedy chose for their first dance?

Jackie and John Kennedy

Jackie and John F. Kennedy on their wedding day

Performed by Meyer Davis and his orchestra, they danced to “I Married an Angel.”

We couldn’t find the version the Kennedys danced to anywhere, but this jazz interpretation by Nat Adderly is very romantic:

For more details on Jackie and John F. Kennedy’s wedding, visit here.


Barry White Did Country?

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

How do you think one of the most popular first dance songs would sound as a country music?

“You’re my First, My Last, My Everything” danced to by newly married bides and grooms all over was originally written by Peter Radcliffe around 1953, was intended to be a country song!*

It sat for 21 years un-recorded until 1974, when Barry White added it to his second album “Can’t Get Enough”. Of course, first, along with Peter Radcliffe and Tony Sepe he music, re-wrote the lyrics (keeping the music), then recorded and produced it as the disco influenced, romancing song we all know and love!

Barry White's 2nd album "Can't Get Enough"

* info source

How Do I Choose My Wedding Day Music with Chris Laich Music Services?

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Your wedding day is just that – all yours! At Chris Laich Music Services, we are committed to always keeping that in mind.

Each playlist for every wedding we do is custom-tailored for the couple and their one of a kind wedding day. If you had a request that is not in our 80,000 song repertoire, we will download as much as needed from iTunes before the event.

Music selection always starts with the bride and groom, and our process is geared toward making sure the music on their wedding day is exactly what they envision it to be. Whether they have a large list of must-plays or a large list of do-not-plays, or whatever; we will completely honor their lists.

We supply our clients with a song list that covers only about 400 songs, asking them to highlight what they’d like to be played, and encouraging them to write any additional songs they would like to hear.

Christine & Jason, image by Elaine Studley

image by Elaine Studley

Our cocktail/dinner playlists often include Frank, Tony, Dean, and Bobby, as well as Dinah, Etta, Ella, Billie, and Nina. Then there’s Van Morrison, Nat, Marvin, Ray, and James Taylor. Some newer music is also worked in, with tracks from artists like Ben Harper, David Gray, Sting, Dave Matthews, Regina Spektor, Coldplay, U2, Harry Connick, Michael Buble, and Eva Cassidy; but will certainly cater to your likes and dislikes.

Jeff & Patti at the Metropolitan Club

By getting to know our clients and their style, when their wedding day arrives, our brides and grooms trust us to pull songs from their list, read the crowd, and play songs in an appropriate order from cocktails to dinner and dancing. With their feedback, we put together a perfect mix of new and old, a blend of eclectic yet recognizable, romantic, distinctive sounds that will always catch their guests’ ears!

Dumbarton House Set Up

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Perched at the top of Georgetown, Dumbarton House has stood in Washington since 1799, when its construction began. It has housed Joseph Nourse, the first Register of the US Treasury, and hosted Dolly Madison as she fled the White House in 1814.

Dumbarton House

image source

Its history and beauty make it a truly special museum and an exceptional venue for a wedding. The Belle Vue Room, where special events are held at Dumbarton House, is as elegant and gracious as the rest of the home, and opens to a lovely courtyard. There are also gardens and terraces perfect for cocktails and ceremonies.

With both outdoors and indoors being utilized for a wedding in a historic home, we have to be on our toes with our equipment set up! Our wireless Bose speakers become almost invisible, providing unparalleled sound quality as well as coverage both in the gardens and in the Belle Vue Room guests can comfortably hear every word during your vows and feel the music drawing them to the dance floor!

dumbarton 4



Planning Your Father Daughter Dance

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Image by Redegti's Photography via Style Me Pretty

There are few more emotional moments in the relationship of a father and daughter than the father-daughter dance.

By nature, the father-daughter dance can be little bit sentimental, but it’s meaning and poignancy are something almost everyone can relate to.  There often isn’t a dry eye in the house!  Since the dance is so personal, you don’t have to choose the same song that your guests have heard at every wedding.

Here are a few traditional and non-traditional father-daughter dance songs from some different genres.   Remember, regardless of the song length, we can certainly fade it out smoothly at any point in the song to create a seamless conclusion to the dance.

“Sunshine of my life” (Stevie Wonder)

“Daddy’s Little Girl” (Michael Buble, Al Martino)

“Daughters” (John Mayer)

“Father and Daughter” (Paul Simon)

“Have I Told You Lately” (Van Morrison)

“I Loved Her First” (Heartland)

“Isn’t She Lovely” (Stevie Wonder)

“Kind and Generous” (Natalie Merchant)

“My Girl” (The Temptations)

image by Regeti’s Photography via Style Me Pretty

2010 Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice Awards!

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Wedding Wire

WeddWedding Wire 2010 Bride's Choice Awardsing Wire awarded Chris Laich Music Services a 2010 Bride’s Choice Award!! Can you tell we’re excited? Out of over 100,000 wedding professionals, more than 500,000 newlyweds chose us as one of the best music providers in the Washington, DC area. Our clients’ happiness is our goal, so we can’t think of any better award to receive than one that’s based on their satisfaction. Wedding Wire is such an amazing site and resource for planning couples. If you aren’t already using it for everything from finding great wedding vendors to using their fantastic planning tools, check it out! You’ll be glad you did.


Father-Daughter Dance

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

Father Daughter Dance via Style Me Pretty by Cathy and David Photography

On a day already filled with emotion, the father-daughter dance has got to be one of the top tear-inducing moments! Traditionally, the father-daughter dance would take place before the bride and groom dance, with the father handing off his daughter to her new husband. Today, however, it usually takes place after the couple’s first dance, the old notion of being “given away” evolving into something far more special. For many, the father-daughter dance is a poignant expression of the bride’s relationship with her father. As the father and daughter dance together on the dance floor, it symbolizes a last dance before the bride leaves her family behind to start her own. The dance’s bittersweet nature can make even the most stoic among us cry as the bride literally dances into her new life!


image via Style Me Pretty by Cathy and David Photography

Real First Dance: Making Memories

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Jeff & Patti at the Metropolitan Club

Jeff and Patti were married in an elegant, intimate wedding at the Metropolitan Club in October.  For their first dance, they took one dance lesson and then decided to wing it! I would have never guessed…they moved across the dance floor in a world of their own.

Jeff & Patti at the Metropolitan Club

Jeff really loves country music, and the words of the song were so meaningful to both of them that they knew Keith Urban’s “Making Memories of Us” was the first song they wanted to dance to as husband and wife.

Wondering if Keith Urban and “Making Memories of Us” might be exactly what you want to float on the dance floor to? Below is an acoustic version.  Even if you’re not a country fan, it is one sweet, romantic song!

To see more of Jeff and Patti’s dance and find out more about their wedding, visit them here!